Arsenal want a swift deal done for Declan Rice, with West Ham targeting four Premier League stars with their windfall. Also: Liverpool are making progress with two France midfielders…
ARSENAL WANT QUICK RICE RESOLUTION AS IRONS EYE FIVE
Arsenal don’t want to mess about over Declan Rice. And it also seems to be in West Ham’s interest to get a deal done as swiftly as possible.
Apparently, the Gunners are working on structuring a £92million offer, which can now be submitted in the wake of West Ham’s European triumph on Wednesday night. The Hammers have always valued Rice at around £100million, but David Sullivan admitted on Thursday that the midfielder will be on his way this summer.
West Ham need top dollar for the skipper in order to fund their own recruitment plans. The Telegraph says the Irons have three primary targets: Leicester’s Harvey Barnes, Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse and Ajax’s Edson Alvarez.
None of those deals will be simple to do. Barnes is also a target for Aston Villa; Alvarez, who almost joined Chelsea last year, is wanted by Borussia Dortmund; and Saints are said to have made it known that they want £52million to sell their captain.
The Daily Mail says Joao Palhinha is also on West Ham’s list but the Portugal midfielder would be valued by Fulham in a similar bracket to Ward-Prowse. Kalvin Phillips is linked with the Hammers too, but the England midfielder is understood to be keen to stay at Manchester City.
CITY AGREE TERMS WITH CHELSEA STAR
Bad news for Phillips, though, with reports that City are looking to sign more midfielders.
Fabrizio Romano says the Champions League finalists have agreed terms with Croatia midfielder Mateo Kovacic. Now City need to reach a deal with Chelsea, who you would expect to be loathe to sell another midfielder to a Big Six rival, with Mason Mount keen to move to Manchester United. But both are out of contract at Stamford Bridge next year and the Blues are loathe to lose either for nothing.
Kovacic could be a replacement of sorts for Ilkay Gundogan, who is also approaching free-agency. City are keen to tie down their skipper but Arsenal, Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund are all keen on the German. So too, according to L’Equipe, are PSG.
LIVERPOOL MAKE PROGRESS WITH FRANCE PAIR
Liverpool have already got to work on remodelling their midfield with the signing of Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton, for a fee that could reach £55million, or a few shillings and some pocket fluff, depending on who you believe.
The Reds aren’t stopping there and Football Transfers says they are making inroads with France international Khephren Thuram by agreeing personal terms with the Nice star.
Fabrizio Romano reckons Liverpool are also keen to talk to Thuram’s compatriot Manu Kone, with meetings scheduled to take place with the Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder.
Read next: The 10 biggest transfers in Europe in the 2023 summer transfer window
